UPDATE: Two charged for foreign incursion offences

Publish date: Thursday, 3 November 2016, Publish time: 2:11pm

The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team has charged two people arrested earlier today as part of ongoing inquiries into the activities of people attempting to travel to, or returning from, conflict zones in Syria and Iraq.

A 17-year-old youth has been charged with one count of prepare to engage in commission of offence against section 119.1, contrary to section 119.4(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and one count of give/receive goods/services to promote section 119.1 offence, contrary to section 119.4(5) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for these offences are life imprisonment.

He is expected to appear in Parramatta Children’s Court today.

A 24-year-old Merrylands man has been charged with one count of incursions into foreign states with the intention of engaging in hostile activities, contrary to section 6(1)(a) of the Crimes (Foreign Incursions and Recruitment) Act 1978. The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years imprisonment.

He is expected to appear before Parramatta Local Court today.

The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team – comprising the NSW Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, and the NSW Crime Commission – would like to reassure the community there is no current or impending threat to the community as part of today’s activities.

Anyone with information should always come forward no matter how small or insignificant you may think that may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123400.